Mix Classic, Contemporary and Rustic it works!

Although I love French interiors and clean whites, I also love eclecticism and after living as an expat in various continents you end up with quite a mix of furnishing. I'd love to have my whole house with a French feel to it, but this would mean I'd have to part with pieces I've collected and cherished for years. So for now my own living area is a mix of periods, styles, fabrics and textures not dissimilar to the image above.

The room above is an eclectic mix of contemporary, antique and rustic. The contemporary clean lines of the sofa and the stark contrast of the rustic table are balanced by the elegant wooden antique side table. The dark grey silk lampshades of the side lamps are striking and draw the eye... (Gosh the artist in me wants to go and straighten up that lampshade on the left ☺). The beautiful fretwork screen seen in the second image balances the dark tone of the lampshades. To soften the overall appearance of the room, cushions have been introduced in muted tones. I think the silver cushion enhances the silver lamp stands, personally, however, I would have brought in another silver cushion instead of the green one as I am a bit of stickler for balance. There is a lot of texture going on in this room (so important), from the velvet of the cushions, slubby linen of the sofa to the rustic wood grain of the coffee table with it's heavy studs around its perimeter.

Overall I think this room is inviting and comfortable. I love the original shutters framing the exterior view of perfectly clipped hedges and topiary. I like that the owners are not afraid to display their collection of interesting ornaments. Sometimes we are looking for the "perfect look" and get rid of our ornaments but this is the difference between a "home" and a "showhome". I also enjoy the brave way they have introduced an assortment of cushions in differing sizes, colours and textures.  

I wonder what you think about this room, I love to read your comments.

 Images are reproduced with permission from jj Locations

The image is the living room of a Regency ground floor apartment in Battersea, London. The apartment is available for film and photo shoots, please visit jj Locations if you wish to see more of this apartment or contact jj Location them with regards to this property.  

I've been inspired and definitely

heading to Laura Ashley's sale this weekend  to

check out their cushions.

Lee oxo

&

Poppy

incredible artists on etsy

i have been spending many wonderful hours lately purusing through etsy's pages of artists. i am constantly amazed at the beautiful talent of the artists and creative people there, as well as those who collect and offer lovely antiquities and old "cherishables". here are some of the people i have discovered, wanting you to be able to find the beauty they share, too. the links are below. i hope you'll visit all of them......their work is breathtaking and sensitive!


http://www.dollhead.etsy.com/,
http://www.danamilton.etsy.com/,
http://www.marina826.etsy.com/,
http://www.aelalabbe.etsy.com/,
http://www.benconservato.etsy.com/,
http://www.vedaarts.etsy.com/,
http://www.kathannah.etsy.com/,
http://www.treasurefrey.etsy.com/,
http://www.cathycullis.etsy.com/,
http://www.allysonmellberg.etsy.com,/
http://www.maisonpaulette.etsy.com,/
http://www.margaretmeyer.etsy.com/,
http://www.timssally.etsy.com/,
http://www.inapaleplace.etsy.com/,
http://www.imagomundi.etsy.com,/
http://www.amberalexander.etsy.com/,
http://www.almapottery.etsy.com/

Ballard Knock-off

I am joining Happy to design  for Sunday Favorites which is a chance to re-run your favorite post. I chose the Ballard Knock-off post because it seemed to be my readers favorite. This post received twice the comments of any others.

The first two photos below are of a print in Ballard's catalog which sells for $349.00 plus $100.00 in shipping cost.  I knew I could replicate the look for a lot less.

First I searched the free sites for a antique style document I could download. I could not find exactly what I was looking for.  I then found this copy of a french birth certificate dated 1816 at http://www.digitalcollagesheets.com/ and purchased the digital image for my project.

My local copy shop was able to enlarge the print to poster size, approximately 24 x 36. Make sure the printer quotes you a price for a poster rather than an enlargement. The enlargement is normally significantly more expensive. I selected a matt finish since I wanted the print to look antique. Lowes had the perfect board in their scrape pile and they cut it to size for free.  I had the board cut 1.5 inches longer and wider than the actual poster.

I then stained just the edges of the board and burned the edges of the poster with a match. Yes, I am doing this on my kitchen counter. It was a really cold and rainy day and I wanted this project done now.  We just won't tell Hubby I started a fire in our new kitchen 

I applied Mod Podge to the board and the back of the print and then used a credit card to smooth out the wrinkles. Once dry I applied a coat of Mod Podge to the front of the print and added two hangers. Here is the finished product and a cost breakdown.

My cost break down for Ballard style print:

Digital download   $ 3.75
Enlargement          $12.00
Board                   $12.00
                             ______
Total cost             $27.75

I had the stain and Mod Podge left from another project .          

I love the results and it was a really easy project!  Thanks for looking and I hope this has inspired you to try
your own knock off.

Sherry